CVE-2015-3232 in Drupal
Summary
by MITRE
Open redirect vulnerability in the Field UI module in Drupal 7.x before 7.38 allows remote attackers to redirect users to arbitrary web sites and conduct phishing attacks via a URL in the destinations parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/21/2022
The CVE-2015-3232 vulnerability represents a critical open redirect flaw within the Field UI module of Drupal 7.x systems prior to version 7.38. This vulnerability exposes web applications to sophisticated phishing attacks by allowing malicious actors to manipulate user redirection flows through crafted URLs. The issue specifically manifests when the application processes destination parameters without proper validation, creating an avenue for attackers to craft deceptive links that appear legitimate to end users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input sanitization within the Field UI module's handling of URL parameters. When users navigate through Drupal's administrative interfaces, the system accepts destination parameters that specify where users should be redirected upon completing certain actions. In vulnerable versions, these parameters are not properly validated or sanitized, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary URLs that bypass normal security checks. This flaw operates at the application layer and specifically affects the web server's response to user navigation requests within the Drupal content management framework.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations relying on Drupal 7.x platforms, particularly those with administrative interfaces accessible to multiple user roles. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious links that redirect users to phishing sites designed to capture credentials or other sensitive information. The impact extends beyond simple redirection as it enables sophisticated social engineering campaigns where users are deceived into believing they are navigating legitimate administrative interfaces while actually being redirected to attacker-controlled domains. This vulnerability directly enables man-in-the-middle attacks and credential harvesting operations that can compromise entire user sessions.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-601, which specifically addresses open redirect vulnerabilities in web applications, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for phishing through social engineering. Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement patch management procedures to upgrade to Drupal 7.38 or later versions where the Field UI module properly validates destination parameters. Additional mitigations include implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious URL patterns, configuring strict referer header validation, and conducting user awareness training to recognize potential phishing attempts. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should also be employed to detect anomalous redirection patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process must include thorough testing of the patched environment to ensure that legitimate administrative functions remain operational while the vulnerability is properly addressed.